[Matt's Messages] "Imperatives for Ministry" ~ Matt Mitchell

“Imperatives for Ministry”
From Jerusalem to Pennsylvania: The Book of Acts
February 12, 2012
Acts 18:1-19:22

We are continuing in our study of the book of Acts that we’ve called “From Jerusalem to Pennsylvania” and we’ve been traveling with the Apostle Paul on what is normally called his “Second Missionary Journey.”

He started in Antioch (this time with Silas) and re-visited the churches they had planted modern day Turkey and had made their way over into Macedonia and Greece.

Last week, we left him in Athens proclaiming to the philosophers who God really is.

Today, we’re going to finish the Second Missionary Journey and actually begin the Third Missionary Journey.

And, as I was thinking about it, I thought about how appropriate this passage is for our Serbia Missions Team on the Sunday we introduce them to the church and for our whole Lanse Free Church Family as we celebrate 120 full years of ministry together.

Because this passage (18:1-19:22) is all about ministry.

What I’m going to call “Imperatives for Ministry.”

An “imperative” is something you’ve gotta do.

A command. A priority. A gotta-do-it.

Encouragements and directives for ministry.

Imperatives for Ministry.

And I’m actually going to boil it down to just 2 this morning.

So, Serbia Team, listen up. God’s Word today has 2 imperatives for you in your ministry over the next several months.

And Lanse Free Church, listen up. God’s Word today has 2 imperatives for us in our ministry for the next 120 years!

Let’s read Acts chapter 18, verse 1 through verse 11.

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.”

There are some old things here and some new.

Paul leaves Athens known for its religiosity and philosophy and heads to Corinth which is known for its trade and economy and debauchery.

There was saying in Greek that went like this, “What happens in Corinth stays in Corinth.”

Not really. But Corinth was the Las Vegas of its day.

To Corinthinize was to be sexually immoral and you don’t want your daughters to be called a Corinthian girl, if you know what I mean.

And Paul heads up to their to Corinth to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love how Paul was not afraid to take the gospel to any place in society and expect it to have an effect.

Did it have an effect in Corinth? There are two letters in your Bible to the Corinthian church. People whose lives had been changed by the Lord Jesus.

Paul says in that first letter to that church, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

He brought the gospel to Corinth.

And he met some friends. V.2

“There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.”

This is Claudius is Ceasar at this moment. And that’s true. He ordered all of the Jews to leave Rome, apparently over disputes about Jesus Christ.

It’s not clear but seems likely that Aquila and Priscilla (don’t you love couples whose names rhyme?) were already believers in Jesus. Because Luke seems to assume it. They are already believers and tentmakers like Paul was by trade and now they hook up and work together. And Paul lives with them. V.3

“Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.”

No surprise there! That’s Paul M.O. The Jew first and then the Greeks.

And then Silas and Timothy show back up. V.5

“When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia [remember how Paul had left them behind?], Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. [They must be doing some of the work for the bread, Paul can go back to preaching full time.] But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.”

He shook out his clothes so that not even a bit of dust from the synagogue was still on it and went next door.

Interestingly, this approach yields fruit even from the Jews, not just from the Gentiles. V.8

“Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.”

Crispus is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1 as one of the people that Paul remember baptizing.

Everybody see again (v.8) that if you are a believer that you get baptized to show that you have become one?

I still encounter people who are waiting to be mature Christians before they get baptized. Baptism is for new Christians, not old ones!

Now, here’s where we’re going to get our first imperative.

Think about the situation.

Paul has been in Corinth and it hasn’t gone really well so far. There are some new believers. V.8 says, “many.”

But the Jews are rabble-rousing and getting (v.6) “abusive.” In verse 12, they are going to mount a united attack and bring Paul to the Roman court.

Things are tough.

And when the going gets tough?

Here’s imperative #1. KEEP AT IT!

I think that Paul was getting discouraged.

And the Lord Himself showed up to encourage him and keep him going. V.9

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.”

Keep at it.

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.”

That’s not how it feels.

Sometimes it feels like “I’m afraid. I want to stop speaking. I won’t be silent.”

This is too hard.

Serbia Team. You might feel like giving up a few times between now and August.

While you’re there, you might feel like shutting up.

Imagine the Lord saying to you, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.”

Keep at it.

Notice why. V.10

“For I am with you,” That’s enough right there! “And no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

I don’t think that He means that God has many people already saved in this city that are going to protect Paul.

I think He means that God has plans to save many people in that city and He’s going to protect Paul to see that it happens!

Keep at it.
Keep going.
Don’t give up.

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.”

Keep at it.

Here’s the plaque that hangs right by the doorway on that side of the church.

“A congregation of seven members met in 1965 to decide if they should dissolve or continue as a local church.”

Seven members! Lanse Free Church was seven members. And only 3 of those had full time jobs at the time!

And they had a congregational meeting at Vera Edgren’s house.

I was just talking with Rosella about that meeting this week.

It goes on to say, “Believing they were to continue, they led the way to the conclusion of the first hundred years of history. May their example guide us with similar resolve. We respectfully acknowledge these seven: Marie Benton (who is with the Lord), Vera Edgren, Beatrice Johnson, Rosella DeyArmin (who has just moved back to be with us again), Agnes Johnson, Raphael Johnson, and Tillie Johnson (who are all three with the Lord, as well).

“May their example guide us with similar resolve.”

47 years ago now, almost 50, when they had to decide to dissolve or keep at it.

And look where we are now.

We just took on 8 new members two weeks ago.

Keep at it!

At times, we’re going to feel like throwing in the towel.

Do you feel like throwing in the towel when it comes to ministry?

Don’t.

Keep at it.

Why? “For I am with you.”

The Hospitality Team has two cakes out there for us today.

One is in Swedish and the other is in English.

60 full years in Swedish, now 60 full years in English.

I’m going to start preaching in Mongolian next week. Just kidding.

Here’s what the cakes say in Swedish, “Hitintills Har Herren Hulpit Oss.”

That was the theme of the Golden Jubilee for Lanse Free Church when it was just a mere 50 years old. There are pictures of a banner with that hanging on it.

Here’s what it means in English. It’s 1 Samuel 7:12.

“Hitherto Has Our Lord Helped Us!”

He’s helped us so far. I think we can trust Him to help us from here on out.

Keep at it.

So, Paul did. Even though the troubles kept coming, too. V.11

“So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia [the province in which Corinth is], the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.

‘This man,’ they charged, ‘is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.’ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law– settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.’ So he had them ejected from the court. Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.”

Now, what I want to point out here is that this is the Lord doing that protecting that He promised Paul.

The Lord promised in verse 8 that noone would harm him.

And Gallio won’t even listen to the case.

He throws it out of court.

I’m not sure if Sosthenes was a Christian who was persecuted or not. There is someone by that name in 1 Corinthians so it might be.

Or verse 17 might be yet another time when Paul was protected. Even though the Jews bring Paul to court, the Jews are who get beat up. And Rome turns a blind eye.

That’s how it reads to me.

The point, again, is verse 10, “I am with you...”

Hitherto has our lord helped us.

Keep at it.

Verse 18. “Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time.”

Amen.

“Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.”

I’m not sure what to make of that. Perhaps a Nazirite vow or a personal vow.

And notice that Priscilla and Aquila travel with him. Here’s the map.

They make the jump across from Greece into the province of Asia. Remember how Paul wanted to go there but was kept from it?

He makes stop there in the city of Ephesus. Ephesus is going to be big in Paul’s ministry.

Guess what he’s going to do there?

Do you think he’ll head for the synagogue? Ya think? V.19

“They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, ‘I will come back if it is God's will.’ Then he set sail from Ephesus. When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.”

I’ll be back...if it’s God’s will.

Notice that he leaves Priscilla and Aquilla behind. That’s going to be important.

God is sovereign over all of these comings and goings just like He is today.

He goes by boat to Caesarea and goes UP and greets the church.

I think that means UP to Jerusalem and greeting the Jerusalem church. It’s only 60 miles from Caesarea and that’s what “up” normally means.

Then down (even though it’s north) to Antioch and what does that mean?

He’s home. That’s the end of the Second Missionary Journey.

Guess what it’s time for?

The THIRD Missionary Journey. V.23

“After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

The third journey starts out a lot like the second journey.

It’s re-peat. A three-peat, really to visit the new churches and strengthen the disciples.

Now, Luke takes the spotlight off of Paul and puts it back in Ephesus on his friend Priscilla and Aquila. V.24

“Meanwhile [back at the ranch] a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”

Now, here’s where our second major imperative comes in.

#2. GET THE GOSPEL RIGHT.

Keep at it in ministry.
And get the gospel right.

As right as you can.

Apollos knew the gospel at least some of it.

Verse 24 calls him, “a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.” That’s the Old Testament.

And he was from Alexandria which was just about equal with Athens for having wise men come from. There was a great university there and the worlds greatest library.

Verse 25 says that he knew the way of the Lord and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately. King James, “diligently.”

So, he knew the gospel. But he there were parts of it he didn’t know.

He only knew about the baptism of John.

He probably knew that John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” But he didn’t know that now we are to be baptized as believers in Jesus.

And (v.26), “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him [preaching boldly about Jesus], they invited him to their home and explained the way of God MORE ADEQUATELY.”

Not a new gospel but a better understanding of it.

I love that. They took him aside and privately discipled this great preacher.

Serbia team, make sure you know the gospel before you go off to Europe to share it.

And make sure that you are taking every opportunity to learn it better.

That’s the chief reason why we interviewed each member of the Serbia missions team. We wanted to make sure that each of them knows the gospel.

Lanse Free Church, make sure you know the gospel before you go off ministering it in the West Branch Community!

And make sure you that you are taking every opportunity (public or private) to learn it better.

I think it’s cool that Apollos and Paul don’t meet here.

Paul was in Ephesus and dropped off Priscilla and Aquila who had been in Corinth.

They meet Apollos and get him up to speed, and then in verses 27 and 28, they send him to Corinth! V.27

“When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia [where Corinth is], the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”

And that’s why Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “I planted. Apollos water. God gave the increase.”

Neat team, huh?

It wouldn’t have been possible if Apollos wasn’t teachable.

We all (and I mean me, too) need to be open to correction and improvement in our understanding of the gospel.

Get the gospel right.

That’s what they needed in chapter 19, too.

Guess who’s coming now to Ephesus? Chapter 19, verse 1.

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John's baptism,’ they replied. Paul said, ‘John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”

These fellas knew even less of the gospel than Apollos did.

They were disciples, probably disciples of John, not yet Jesus.

And in getting to know them Paul finds out that they haven’t received the Holy Spirit.

They didn’t even know there was one!

I think that means that they didn’t know that Pentecost had come. They didn’t know there was a Holy Spirit available to all belivers.

They had received John’s baptism, but they didn’t know that John was the forerunner of the Christ.

And that the Christ had come and died and rose again and sent His promised Holy Spirit.

And now they do know! And they believed and were baptized and Pentecost caught up with them (Stott’s phrase).

Interestingly, that the last time that tongues are mentioned in the book of Acts.

So, back in Ephesus. Back to the synagogue. V.8

“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way [Christianity]. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.”

Keep at it.
Get the gospel right.

Even if they refuse to listen, find ways to preach the gospel.

Notice how long this went on. This isn’t as much of a journey as it is a new ministry center. Paul is lecturing daily on the gospel.

And powerful things are happening. Unusual things. Verse 11.

“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”

Wow. Now notice that even Luke says that this was extraordinary. I don’t think we’re supposed to expect this sort of thing today.

Especially not when some “televangelist” says that he’ll send you a prayer-cloth for a donation to his ministry!

But this happened. The Spirit was on Paul as he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and He was authenticating the message with unusual miracles.

And that got people’s attention.

So much so that some people tried to replicate it themselves. V.13

“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’”

Now, what’s wrong with that sentence?

These guys don’t believe in Jesus. “He’s the Jesus Paul preaches.”

They just want to use His name.

Newsflash: Jesus doesn’t like His name being used like that. V.14

“Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’”

Love that!

“Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”

Get the gospel right.

The name of Jesus is powerful, but it’s not a talisman. It’s not a magic amulet that you can use to ward away bad juju.

The name of Jesus is powerful because Jesus is powerful. V.17

“When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.”

That could be 50,000 days wages!

“In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. [Visiting all of the new churches that he can.] ‘After I have been there,’ he said, ‘I must visit Rome also.’ He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.”

And we’ll find out more about his tumultuous times there next week.

But let’s press this point home some more.

Get the gospel right. It's imperative!

When the gospel is right, when we truly know the name of the Lord Jesus and are in a right relationship with Him, then there is true power.

Power for miracles.
And power for life change.

I think that verses 18 and 19 are some of the most powerful verses in Acts.

These peoples’ lives were changed.

They showed their change, their repentance, their transformation by giving up things that were formerly very valuable to them and very destructive.

But now, they believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

That’s how powerful the gospel is.

Get the gospel right because it is so powerful.

I expect to hear stories (either in August or later or at least in heaven) of how our Serbia team took the gospel to Europe and lives were changed.

And I think we all know stories of people right here in Central PA who have heard the gospel rightly because of Lanse Free Church and seen their lives transformed.

To God Be the Glory!

Messages So Far In this Series: